Outstanding achievements in the hiring, retention and advancement of people with disabilities were honored today at the Defense Department’s 34th annual Disability Awards ceremony at the Pentagon.
The annual event honors DoD components for their programs for people with disabilities and highlights the accomplishments and abilities of employees and service members with disabilities who have made significant contributions and best demonstrate the core values of their respective organizations, officials said.
Jessica L. Wright, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, hosted the event, part of the department’s annual observance of National Disability Employment Awareness month.
In her opening remarks, Wright provided succinct advice on how all organizations can advance the progress of individuals with disabilities: “Hire them,” she said.
Keynote speaker David M. Capozzi, executive director of U.S. Access Board, provided his perspective on the observance’s theme: “Expect. Employ. Empower.”
“Today, employment is [still] the area with the widest gap between people with disabilities and the rest of the population,” Capozzi said. “When a disproportionate number of Americans with disabilities remain unemployed, we all have to work harder.”
The following were recognized as Outstanding Department of Defense Employees and Service Members with Disabilities for 2014:
-- DeLisa L. Kviz, Martin R. Wagner and 1st Sgt. Paul J. Cottrell, Department of the Army;
-- David DeMauro and Marine Corps Cpl. Ivan E. Sears, Department of the Navy;
-- Kathi J. Duncan, Chris J. Gitto and Tech. Sgt. Chad A. Molenhour, Department of the Air Force;
-- Vance E. Fulkerson Jr. and Army Sgt. Kyle Snyder, National Guard Bureau;
-- Polly W. Adams, DoD Office of the Inspector General;
-- John M. Perry, Army and Air Force Exchange Service;
-- Jenobia T. Pitts, Defense Commissary Agency;
-- Paul Stephen Doyle Jr., Defense Contract Audit Agency;
-- Hilary N. Bishop, Defense Contract Management Agency;
-- Cielito Valencia, Defense Finance and Accounting Service;
-- Christopher J. Frost, Defense Intelligence Agency;
-- Melanie Sue Schmechel, Defense Logistics Agency;
-- Jennifer Weber, Department of Defense Education Activity; and
-- Fadi M. Abu-Shaaban, National Security Agency.
The Department of the Air Force, Defense Finance and Accounting Service, DoD Office of Inspector General and the National Security Agency were honored for outstanding achievements in the hiring, retention and advancement of individuals with disabilities.